Aligning and registering device for billing machines



March 15, 1927.

R. T. MANNHARDT 'ET AL ALIGNING AND REGISTERING DEVICE FOR BILLING MACHINES Filed Aug. 22,- 1925 Shele'pS-Sheet' 1 March 15, 1927." 'y

R. T. MANNHARDT ET AL ALIGNING AND REGISTERING DEVIEFOR BILLING MACHINES Filed Aug. 22, 1925 INVENTUM ww Nm nd m.

lig

ATTORNEYS.4

Patented Mai. 15, i927.

UNITED STATES PATENT .ori-ica RUDOLF T. MANNHARDT, OF WHITE-PLAINS, AND ALDROB. HITZEL, OF JAMAICA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS T GILMAN FANFOLD CORPORATION, LTD., TORONTO, CANADA, A CORPORATION .OF ONTARIO.

ALIGNING AND REGISTERING DEVICE FOR BILLING MACHlNES.

Application 1ed-August 22, 1925. Serial No. 51,8108.

This invention 'relates to improvements in manifolding machines, and more partlcularly in some of its details it relates to imf provements in the type of machine ordi-- y improve and perfect machines of the class mentioned whereby the writing operation may be performed in a more satisfactory manner land the record entered in clear and legible form, and in correct position on all the record strips. A further object is to provide in a machine of the class mentioned, an improved means'for smoothing and positioning one or more record strips or sheets over the writing platen so the writing may be accomplished in an expeditious and satisfactory manner.

Still another object is to provide in a machine of the class mentioned, improved means for 'smoothing va plurality of superposed record strips over a writing platen so the strips may lie close to each other at the parts to be written upon, and in contact with the interposed transfer or carbon sheets, whereby the sheets lie in smooth flat condition on the platen so as to avoid wrinkles, folds or air spaces between them, thus enabling a clear, legible and perfect impression to be made on-all of the record strips.

Another object is to provide in a machine' of the class mentioned, improved means for aligning several superposed record strips which may have blank forms printed thereon,

so as to bring the forms into correct superposition or registry with each other and the writing thus simultaneously entered on all the forms.

Another object is to provide in a machine of the class mentioned an improved means for feeding one or more record strips reversely over the writing platen in case the strips are fed forwardly too far.

' Another object is to provide in a machine of the class mentioned, an improved smooth-- be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims. A.

For a complete understanding of thenature andobjects of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description of an illustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention, and to the accompanying drawings, in which: l A

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section through a typewriting machine embodying the invention, the section being ltaken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is ,a top plan view thereof, the platen beingvindicated in dot and dash outline, and 'other parts being removed to facilitate disclosure;

Fig. 3 is 'a fragmentary vertical sectional view .similar l'to that of Fig.' 1 but showing the strip positibning mechanism in a 'different position;

Fig. 4 is an eV larged sectional view on the plane of the fo ward part of Fig. 1 showing the arrangemenltof the aligning pins and the strip pressr'and cutter bars;

Fig. 5 is a detailed section of one of the strip aligning pins; and I Fig. 6 is a plan of part of a record strip such asv may be'pmployed in the improved machine.

. l Referring tothe drawing for a detailed Vdescription of/ the embodiment therel shown,

the base or 'pporting framework is indicated general y at 10. and at the upper part thereof is supported the track frame 11 comprising two parallel supporting rails upon which the typewriter 12 is'mounted for forward and backward. travel over the flat writing table or platen 13.. By means of this arrangement the type of the typewriting machine isenabled to strike upon the surface of the record strip or work sheet S which may be led into writing position upon the surface Aof the platen. The impression is thus written upon the record strip, or in case more than one copy is desired, as is usually the case, the 'impression is simultaneously made upon the additional strips by means of' interposed transfer material such as the I. interleaved carbon sheets C, shown in Fig.

portions of the carbon sheets into active position as the used parts become exhausted.

At the leading end of the platen 13, that I is, the end thereof adjacent the front of the machine which is at the right in Fig. 1, a combined presser and cutter bar 15 Yis positioned extending transversely across the vpath of the strips. This bar is mounted to be raised to permit free passage and feed of the record strips therebeneath or to be low ered to clamp the strips and secure them against the bed or forward edge of the platen. The bar 15 is carried by spaced arms 16 pivotally mountd by meansof a shaft or rod 17 supported in the track frame 11 and extending transversely thereof. The arms 16 are biased by means of springs 18 tohold the bar 15 in clampingiposition.

The arms 16 may be operated' in any convenient manner from an operating pedal 19r mounted for swinging movement in the lower-part of the framework of the machine, the operating connections shown including a link` 20 connected at one end to the pedal and at the other end to the bow of a U-shaped lever 2l having forwardly extending arms underlying the transverse rods 17 at their forward ends. The arms of the lever 21 are pivotally connected as at 22 to links 23 pivoted at one end as at 24 to the track frame 11, the other ends being pivoted as at 25 to extensions 26 of the bar supporting arms 16. The pivotal connection 25 between levers 23 and26 may be sufficiently loose to permit the necessary swinging movement of the barsupporting arms 16 and the links 23. It will thus be seentliat depression of the pedal 19")vill through the connections describedmaise the cutter bar 15 above the sur face of the platen. l Y A r An auxiliary presser bar or bail 27 is disposed alongside the barl extending entirely across the path of the record strips and supported at its opposite extremities by arms 28 pivot-ally mounted on' the transverse shafts 17. depressed position by means of tension springs 29 connected to lugs upon the arms. 19a-h of the arms 28 is mounted adjacent one of the arms 16 and has a lug` or stud 30 lying in the path of movement of the arm 16. The studs 30 are, however, positioned some distance from the points of contact with the bars 16, when both bars 15 and 27 are in lowered or strip clamping positions, so that the bar 15 when raised moves some distance to release the free ends of the strips gripped thereunder before the arms 28 are picked up by movement of the arms 16 tol raise the auxiliary clamping bar 27. Thus the operator may grasp the free ends of the strips while said strips are still retained by the auxiliary presser bar so accidental disalignment or misplacement of the strips is avoid ed. Continued upward movement of the bar 15 and itsvsupporting arms 16 resultsin raising the auxiliary bar from its `strip securing position entirely releasing the strips from the grip of both of these presser bars. lVhen pressure on the pedal is released, both the cutter bar and auxiliary presser bar are returned to clamping position by operation of the springs 18 and 29.

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, one or more strip aligning andholding pins 31, preferably two, underlie the cutter bar 15 in position so theirprotruding ends transect the path of the record strips. These pins are preferably mounted for projection into the strip path or retraction therefrom, being' for this purpose mounted ina supporting casing 32 inserted into seats or sockets formed in the framework of the machine. Each pin is provided with a guiding and rctaining rod 33 secured thereto and extending through the lower head of the socket and provided at its lower end with a head or lug to limit upward movement of the pin. The rod 33 is surrounded by a compression spring 34 tending always to project the pin into operative position but permitting retraction thereofwhen the outer end of the pin is pressed by the strips or cutter bar 15. '.lhesc pins'when projected extend through openings in the several record strips and in order to permit this engagement to take place when the bar 15 is down against the strips, the underside of the bar is recessed as shown at 35 opposite each pin, This permits the pins to extend entirely through V:the strips when'the cutter bar is down so the strips are held against retraction or disalignment.

As shown in Fig. 6, the strips are formed with apertures 36 for receivingthe pins 31,

, these apertures being similarly positioned in all of the strips. with reference to -blank forms 37 which are preferably placed unon These arms are normally held in i' ...each sheet. fThat portion of the stripl inlffcluding a pair of apertures 36 and av blank form maybe regarded as ay record-leaf or` unit which may form one individual bill or similar memorandum. The apertures 36 will therefore be similarly positioned in each leaf whether or not the blank form is used. .The adjacent leaves may be separated by Weakened lines l38 asl by perforation. It is convenient to store these strips in zigzag supply pads or packs 39 (Fig. 1), the folds or en 13, is a strip manipulating mechanism.

or unit indicated generally at 41. i This .unit includes a strip securing device or gripper and an oscillatory tension bar.l The strip securing device includes a transverse bar or rod .42, vwhich may form a permanent frame member gf the track frame 11,- and a cooperating presser-'shoe or gripper jaw 43 lsupported by a carriage frame or slide 44 slidably mounted through slots 45 for longitudinal 'reciprocation upon supporting pins or studs 46 carried by the unit. The carriage frame 44 is normallyurged into strip gripping position by tension springs 47 connected to operating bell crank levers 48 pivotally mounted at 49 to the unit frame, the bell crank levers being connected to the respective sides of the carriage frame by pin and slot connections 50.

An oscillatory tension bar 51 is mounted on the supporting frame of the unit. 41. beingpositioned to overlie the strips S and being carried by arms 52 non-rotatably supported by a rock shaft 53. The tension bar 51 is biased resiliently to strip contacting and tensioning position by means of a tension spring 54 attached to lugs upon the supporting arms 52. 'lhe arms 52 are 'extended beyond the rock shaft 53 as at 55 and these extensions are provided with contact lugs 56 lying in position to Contact with the adjacent arms of the bell crank levers 48 so as to rock said bell crank levers andoperate the gripper jaw 43. This connection provides for a lost motion between the presser bar and the gripper jaw so the bar may swing through a considerable are without effecting operation of the jaw. The

purpose of this arrangement is more fully described below.

The rock shaft 53 is rockedfrom the pedal19 to operate the mechanism described through operative connections including ya Vlink 57, a pin and slot connection 58vand a crank^59 fixed to the rock sha-ft. The pin and slot connection 58 enables the presser bar 51 to assume different positions, de-

pendent upon conditions of strip tension,

Without disturbing the normally inoperative position of the pedal 19. The operating vconnections from the pedal 19 .are so proportioned thatA the proper coordination is secured in the sequence ofoperationsof the various. strip controlling mechanisms der scribed. That is, when the pedal is depressed from the normally inoperative positionfar A,

shown in Fig. 1, ,the'presser and cutter bar 15 is first raised to release thefree ends of the strips so they may bev graspedv by the operator.

the tension bar 4being substantially simule taneous With or just after release of the cutter' bar 15. Finally the gripper jaw 43 is retracted to release its grip upon the strips and then the auxiliary presser bar 27' is raised. The strips are now free to be pulled forwardly by the operator tointroduce a fresh set of blanks over the platen 13. It will be notedthat the pressure exertedby the tension bar upon the strips is released before the strips are released by The tension bar 51 is next' raised f from contact with the strip, the release o'i thestrip securing devices27 and 43. There is consequently no tendency to displace the strips. t

Smoothing'rolls 6() and 61 may alsobe mounted upon the unit 41, being preferably positioned out of alignment with cach other so as to form rather sharp bights in thestrips passing thereover as shown at the left end of Fig. 1. The leading roll 60 may be mounted for yielding movement laterally of. its axis' so as to yield slightly to relieve the strip tension when it exceeds al predetermined value. This may lie-accomplished as shown by constructing the roll 60 of sul"- and mounting said roll in bearings having upwardly directed openings 62 as shown in Fig. 1. This permits the rolllGO to yield or be lifted upwardly when the 'strip tension reaches a predetermined value, Athus prevent-ing excessive strip tension and avoiding ficient Weight tov/impose thedesired tension,

tearing out of the strip apertures 36 in envantage as it permits the` strips to `lie-- smoother and flatter over the platen and avoids injury to the forward edges of the j,

' and :against the platen, avoidingl spaces; in-

te'rposed therebetween and. enabling fthe- 'Writing to be done` in a more satisfactory carbon strips by the creases in the record strips advancing thereagainst as the strips are fed forwardly. Since the strip'tension -reacts directly against the smoothingl surface of the rolll the creases are smoothed out by cont-act of one side only of the strip with the smooth surface, and it is therefore unnecessary to provide an opposing presser surface to press the vcrease against the smoothing surface of the roll.

The strip gripping mechanism, the strip ironing or smoothing mechanism, and the strip tensioning mechanism, including the tension bar 51,` as above described,4 are mounted together to form the strip manipulating unit' 41 mentioned, this unitary assembly being accomplished by means of a supporting frame including side supporting members 62 with cross tie rods 68. unitary assemblage isthus provided which may be placed as a unit in operative position as shown in Fig. 1, and it may be also removed as a unit. When placed in posi` tion, the unitis supported by means of removable securing means such as lolts 64 mounted in the side frame members of the track frame 11. This arrangement permlts the unit to be supplied as an attachment to existing machines with very little alteration thereof and with very little trouble or eX- pense. Iv

The operation of the' improved mechanism which Wil/:fl now heclearl from theffqregoing disclosure may' be summarized as follows.

Assuming the machine isto be loaded with record strips, the pedal 19 is depressed caus ing the operative 'parts to assumethe position shown in Fig. 3. The presser bars 15v and 27 and the tension bar 51 being raised f and the gripper jaw 43 retracted, the ;on

tinuous strip may be threaded in the ma- I chine into the position shown in Fig.y 1 being interleaved with the carbon sheets Fig. 4. The free ends ot' the strip are impaled upon the pins 3l bringing all the sheets into longitudinal and lateral alignment. Upon lowering the presser bar 15, any projecting ends of the strips may be torn ofi' across the bar. lVhen the pressure upon the pedal ,is released, bars 15 and 27 are returned to .strip clamping and securing position by operation in the springs18 and 29, the clamping jaw 43 is closed by its spring 47, and the tension "bar 51 then moves into yielding contact with the strips under the influence 'of its-spring 54. The tension or presser bar 51 does not become active to press upon the strips until said strips areirmly secured at both leading trailing ends of the platen, when -it ex erts a vyielding pressure transversely upon the top face of the strips placing them under l tension and smoothing out .the Wrinkles',

creases and other irregularities in the VseveralV `ing the strips.

VLear-seis strips over The strips are thus caused t lie closely against each other manner, and a'v clear, full and legible pression to be-made on all of the' strips.

This tensioning also has atendencv to alignV the `strips by pulling the walls of the open'- ings `36 against the pins '31,. In v'case' the strips are pulledslightly too far forwardly, reverse feed of t-hestrips into correct pnsi.-

tion over the platen and under the cutter barl 15 and presser bar 27 may be effected by op-x by the combined action of the pins and the A presser bar 27 and cutter bar 15. The prin- -cipal function of the presser bar 27 1s t0 clamp the ends of the strips against the bed or, platen and to hold them securely in en'- gagement with the pins 31 when the bar 15 is above, it will be observed that the bar 15 9o raised. Thisy is desirable since as stated is raised as soon as the pedal begins to move downwardly. By means of the auxiliary bar' 27 however, the strips are clamped down and held in engagement with pins 31 until after release ofthe tension bar 51.

In order to accentuate the stripsmooththe surface of the strips under theini'luence.l

of spring 54. This operation has the eifect of jogging or starting the several strips into correct position, the tapping operation of the tension bar having a tendency to move the sheets suddenly, overcoming static friction, and eiiectually smoothing and tension- During this oscillatory movement of the tension bar, it will be understood that the strips remain-clamped or secured at their leading ends by the presser bar 27 which! holds the strips in engagement with pins 31, and at the trailing end by the gripper jaw 43, This is true because the presser bar 27'and the gripper jaw 43 are not .aii'ected'by this limited movement of the pedal, by virtue of the operating connections described. In case there is a tendency to create too great a tension on the strips by this oscillation of the tension :bar 51, such as abovedescrbed. Alsothe tension of the ing, aligningnand reverse feed operations, and to render'such 'operatlonsmore effective.

springs 54 may be 'so adjusted as to permit the strips to slip slightly -under clamping 'jaw 43. I

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction- 'and different embodimentsof the invention could be made with out! departing from the scope tliereof,.it is intended thatfall matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the 'following claims are intendedto cover all o'f the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the' scope of the invention which, as a matter oflaDguage, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to Patent is :A y l.v Ina machine of the character described,

secure by Letters i in combination, a writing platen upon which a record strip may be led and supported in writing position, a 'main strip-clamping presser bar for clamping the strip in writing position, an auxiliary strip-clamping presser bar, mechanism for exerting a pull upon said strip to tension, smooth and align it upon said platen and unitary operating mechanism for said presser barsand said exerting mechanism for releasing said mainv presser' bar' and controlling said exerting A mechanism to" exert an aligning pull upon the stripwhile the auxiliary presser bar remains in strip clamping position.

2. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a fiat writingvplaten upon whicha record strip may be positioned for the reception ofan impression, means for securing the strip at longitudinally-spacedv paits thereof, bothforwardly and rearwardly of said platen, and means cooperating with the strip-'rearwardly of said platen and. intermediate the-spaced parts thereof secured by said securing means for tensioning'and smoothing said stripv over the platen.

3. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a writing platen, means vfor guidinga record strip over said writing platen, means for securingtlie strip at longitudinally spaced parts thereof against feeding movement, means for operating upon the strip intermediate said securing means f for tensioning and smoothing'it over the'platen when it is held against feeding movement by said securing means, and manually operable mechanism for releasing said strip securing means to lfree the strip to feeding In a machine of the character described, in combination, ,a writing platen, means for guiding a record strip over said writing v movement.

' platen, means for securing the strip at longitudinally spaced parts thereof, means oper- .ating independently of strip feed for ten-V sioning and smoothing said strip over the platen while it is held by said securing means, anda common manualmeans-for operating, in coordination, said tensioning and smoothing means and said strip securing means.

5.' In a machine of the character described, in combination, a writing platen, means for guiding a record strip over saidwriting platen, means -for securing the stri at longitudinally spaced parts thereof, eans for `operating upon said strip intermediate said securing means for' .tensioning and smooth-` ing it over the platen while it is ,held by said securing means, and common manual means for operating, in coordination, said tensioning and smoothing means and said stripsecuring means.

6.l In a machine of the character described, in combination, awriting platen, means for guiding a record strip over said writing platen, mechanisms for securing the strip at longitudinally spaced parts thereof, means `for pressing upon the strip intermediate said securing means and at oneend vof said platen for vtensioning and smoothing the strip over the platen, and a unitary manual operating mechanism to release said stripsecuring mechanisms. v

7. In a machine of the character described,

in combination, a writing platen, means for guiding a record strip over said writing platen, means for clamping the record. strip at one side 4of said pla-ten, pin means disposed .no l

at the other side of said platen andl adapted to enter apertures in the record strip, means 'for exerting reverse tension on the strip tending to move it rearwardly when held by said clamping means'and by said piii means to position and smooth the strip upon the platen, and mechanism for releasing said` clamping means to free the strips tol feeding movement.

8:- Iu a machine of-the' character described, in combination, a Writing platen, means for guiding a plurality of superposed lrecord strips over said writing platen, said strips having similar blank` forms thereon and apertures therein bearing a definite relation to the respective blank forms, aligning-pins disposed forwardly of said platen. stripsecuring'means spaced from said pins for 'securing the strips against feeding moveagainst feeding movement, strip positioning means adapted to exert a reverse pull upon said record strips tending to move them rearwardly to tensionand align them when said pins are in engagement with said apertures, and mechanism for releasing said securing means to free the strips to feeding movenient.

l0. In a machine of the character .described, in combination, 'a writing platen, means for guiding aplurality of superposed record strips over said writing platen, said strips having similar blank forms thereon and apertures therein bearing a definite re-y lation to the respective blank forms, aligning pins 'disposed forwardly of said platen, means spaced from said pins for securing the strips.l against feeding movement, and means to exert-'a transverse pressure upon the face of the strips to tension and smooth them over the platen when secured by said pin and said strip securing means.

11.'In a machine of the character dcscribed, in combination, a writing platen, means for guiding a plurality of superposed record strips over said writing platen, said strips having similar blank forms thereon and apertures therein bearing a definite relation to the respective blank forms, aligning pins disposed forwardly of said platen, means spaced from said pins for securing the strips against feeding movement, means to exert a transverse pressure upon the face of the strips to tension and smooth them over the platen when secured by said pin and said strip securing means, and a single manual means to operate said strip securing means and said strip pressing means.

12. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a writing platen, means for guiding a plurality of superposed ,record stripsoversaid writing platen, said strips having similar blank forms thereon and apertures Vtherein bearing a definite relation to the respective blank forms, aligning pins disposed forwardly of said platen, means spaced from said pins for securing the strips against feeding movement, means to exert a transverse pressure upon the face of the strips to tension and smooth them over the platen when secured by said pin and said strip securing means, a single manual means to operate said strip securing means and said strip pressing means, and means whereby said manual operating means may operate said strip pressing means -to exert intermittent pressure upon said strips while maintaining strip securing position of said strip securing means.

13. In a machine of the character described, in,` combination. a wr-iting platen,

record strips over said platen, said record strips having similar blank forms thereon and apertures therein bearing-a definite re,

lation to the respective forms, securing means at both ends of said platen for securing said strips, means to exert a transverse pressure upon the face of the strips to tension and smooth them `over the platen when secured by said strip securing means, and a single manual means to operate said strip securing means and said strip pressingl vmeans.

14. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a writing platen, meansl for guiding a. plurality of superposed record strips over said platen, said record st ripshaving similar blank forms thereon and apertures therein bearing a definite rclation to the. respective forms, securing mea-ns at both ends of said platen for securing said strips, means tov exert'a transverse pressure upon the -face of the strips to ten-` sion and smooth them over the platen when secured by said strip securing means, a single manual means to operate said strip securing means and said strip pressing means, and means whereby said manual operating means may operate said strip pressing means to exert intermittent pressure on said strips while the strips are secured by both of said securing means.

l5. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a writing platen, means for guiding arecord strip over said platen, a plurality of securing means for securing saidfstrip at leading and following .ends of the platen, mechanism to control ends of the platen, anoscillatorytension bar disposed between said securing means adapted to press upon the surface of the strip, and means for oscillating said tension bar While the strip is secured by said securing means.

17. In a machine of lthe character descrbed, in combination, a writing platen, means for guiding a record strip over said' platen, a' plurality of securing means for securing said strip at leading and following ends of the platen, an oscillatory tension bar disposed between said securing means and adapted to press upon the surface of the strip, a manual operating member, and

means for guiding a plurality of superposed operating connections between saidoperating 4 said tension bar.

19. In a machine of the character dei scribed, in combination, a writing platen.

-ends of the platen, an oscillatory tension bar disposed between said securing means and adapted to press upon the surface of the strip, and a treadle for operating said stripv securing means and oscillating said tension bar t0 press intermittently upon the surface of the strip when the latter is secured by said securing means. i

20. In a machine of the character .described, in combination, a'writing-platen, means for guiding a record strip over said platen, a plurality ofl securing means for securing said strip at leading and following ends of the platen, an oscillatory tension bar disposed betv n said securing means and adapted to press upon the surface of the strip, springs for ,normallyholding said securing means in stripsecuring position, and

.unitary operating means for releasing said securing means and operating said presser bar.

" 21. In a device of thecharacter described,

in combination, a platen, means for guiding a plurality of superposed. record strips into' position over said platen, and means for exerting an intermittent transverse pressure uporrthe faceof the strips to'effect tensioning and smoothing thereof over the. platen'.

22. In a device of the character described, in combination, a platen, means for guiding a plurality of superposed record strips into position over said platen, jogging mechanism for intermittently jogging the strips to effect reverse feed thereof, and means for engaging the strips to stop Ithem in correct Writing position with reference to said platen,

23. In a device of the character described,

in-combination, a platen, means for guiding a plurality of superposed record strips intov position over the platen, said strips having apertures spaced thei'ealong, .pins for engagement in said apertures, and jogging mechanism for intermittently jogging the strips to effect a reverse pull upon the stripstending to move them reversely when the pins are engaged in the apertures so as to smoothsaid strips over the platen.

between said 24. In a device of the character described, in combination, a platen,means for guiding a plurality of superposed record strips into position over the platen, releasable means for gripping the strips at the rear of foi'- wardly fed portions thereof, means for operating said gripping means, and means for jogging the strips while gripped by said gripping means to effect a reverse tensioning effect upon said strips.

25. In a device of the character described, in combination, a platen, means for guiding a pluralityof superposed record strips into position over the platen, and tapping mechanism for tapping Athe strips upon the face thereof to effect tensioning of the strips.

26. In-a device of the character described, in combination, a Writing platen, means for guiding a plurality of superposed record strips into position over the writing` platen'.4

holding means engaging the strips at longitudinally spaced j parts thereof for supporting the strips against feeding movement., means for operating said `holdingvmeans, means for tapping the reach of record strip between said holding means to effect ten.- sioning thereof, and unitary operating means for coordinating" operation offsaid holding means and said tapping means.

27. Ina device of the character described, p

in combination, a Writing platen, means for guiding a plurality ofl superposed record i strips into position over the Writing platen.A

holding means engaging the strips'atilongitudinally spaced parts thereof for support- .ing the strips against feeding movement, means for operating said. holding means, means fortaplping the reach of record strip olding means to effectitensiouing thereof, and operating means for oscillating said tapping means to exert an intermittent tensioning effect upon the strips so as to smooth them over the platen.

y28. In a device of the character describml.

in combination, a writing.platen, means for 'tensioning a record strip, manual mechanism for operating said strip-tensioning means to tension the'strip, andseparate means for limiting to a predetermined value the tension imposed by said tensioning means.

29. In a device of the character described, in combina-tion, a; Writing platen, means for securing .a strip against traveling movement at spa-ced parts thereof, means for tensioning said strip when held by said securing means, and separate means for limiting to' a predetermined value thetension imposed by said tensioning means. y

30. In a device 4of the character described, in combination, a Writing platen, means for securing a strip against traveling move- ,l

ment at spaced parts thereof, means `for tensioning said strip when held by saidrsecuring means, manualmechanism for operating said strip-tensioning means to tensionv iso the strip, and a yieldable limiting member bearing upon a bight in said strip for limiting to a predetermined valuev the tension imposed by said tensioning means. y 31. Ina device of the character described; in combination, a writing platen, means for securing a strip at spaced parts thereof, an oscillatory tensioning bar adapted to press transversely upon said strip when held by said securing means, manual mechanism for oscillating said tensioning bar to tension the strip, and separate means for limiting t'o a predeterminedv valu'e the, tension imposed by said tensioning means.

32. In a device of the character described,

in combination, a Writing platen, means for oscillating said strip-tensioning bar and afloating roller bearing upon a bight in said -strip for limiting to a predetermined value thev tension imposed by said tensioning bar.

Ina machine of the character described in combination, a writing platen onto which a record strip having fold creases therein may pass from `a strip supply, -a

smoothing surface over Which the strip. .l passes to the platen, inechainsin for restraining the strip against longitudinal feeding movement, manually controlled mechanism for tensioning the strip when restrained by said restraining mechanism, so as to 1ncrease strip tension which reacts directly to `force a crease into close contact withl said smoothing surface so as to smooth out the strip crease. I

34. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a writing platen,

` means for guiding a record strip over said platen, a combined presser andA cutter bar for holding the forward end of the record '4 strip, an auxiliary presser bar for the for-l ward. end of the record strip disposed adplaten, a combined presser and cutter bar for holding'the forward end of the record strip, an auxiliary presser bar disposed rearwardly of the said first mentioned bar,

. means to release said first mentioned bar to expose the free end of the record strip and subsequently to release'said auxiliary bar, and aligning pins resiliently urged toward said first mentioned presser bar.

36. In a machine of the character described, `in combination, a Writing platen upon which airecord strip may be Vled and supported in writing posit-ion, a -main stripbar and lexerting a pull upon the strip While the auxiliary presser bar remains in strip-clamping `position to align the strip,

and strip aligning pins adjacent said main presser bar and cooperating with apertures in the strip to check said strip in aligned position. y l n 37. In a" machine of the character de'- scribed, in combination, a writing platen, means for guiding a .record strip over said platen, retractablestrip aligning pins for engaging-the strip through apertures there in, means vfor resiliently urging said pins into 'strip engaging position, a strip clamping presser bar overlying said aligning pins and vhaving a recessed underface to receive 'the aligningpins, said presser bar being mounted for movement to strip clamping y position so as to bindthe strip with the pins in engagementwith the strip apertures, 0r for movement from strip'clamping position to permit free engagement or disengagement of the strip with said' aligning pins and a unitary operating mechanism for sequential operation of said presser bars.

38. In a machine of he character described, in combination, a writing platen, meansv for guiding a record strip over said platen, retractable strip aligning pins for engaging the strip through apertures therein, means for. resiliently urging said pins intofstrip engaging position, a strip clamping presser bar overlying 'said aligning pins and having a recessed underface to vreceive the aligning pins, said presser bar being mounted for movement to strip to permit free engagement or disengagement of the strip with said al'gning pins, an auxiliary presser bar extending from edge to edge of the record stripv for holding the latter when said first mentioned presser bar has been released, and a unitary operating lmechanism for sequential operation of said presser bars. y

39. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a track frame, a writing platen, a strip guiding and aligning mechanism, and a unitary supporting frame for supporting said mechanism in an assembled unit, placeable as a unit in operating position upon said track frame and similarly removable therefrom.

clamping position so as to bind the strip with the vpins in engagement with thestrip apertures, or' for movement from strip clamping positionl 40. In a machine of the character deplaceable as a unit in operating position scribed, in combination, a track (frame, a upon said track frame and similarly re- .writing platen, a strip guiding and mamovable therefrom. l0 Y nipulating mechanism including a strip In testimony whereof we aix our signagripper and an oscillatable tensioning bar, tures. and a unitary supporting frame for support- RUDOLF T. MA'NNHARDT. ing said mechanism in an assembled unit, ALDRO B. HITZEL. 

